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Aphonion Tales: The Archducal Council -- Unedited notes; later posts are edited transcripts (posts MWF, update 3/1/23)
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<blockquote data-quote="CPaladin" data-source="post: 8348770" data-attributes="member: 7030144"><p>Session 57 (February 19, 2013)</p><p></p><p>Skard 19 (continued)</p><p>A psion patches Alistair through, with some difficulty, to a council chamber in black and blood red with gold sigils. There are three figures in the chamber—the Archduchess, who the Council has met before, on a kneeler; a man dressed entirely in black, seated on a small throne; and another man in a blackened steel mask.</p><p></p><p>Alistair discusses the matters.</p><p></p><p>"You are correct; it is unacceptable. If they can break the Seachen, in addition to controlling the treasures there, and likely elevating their temporary ally the Abomination of Shurr, they would be able to control the Spice Lands." The Archduchess continues, "We have identified all of the breakthrough points—one south of your continent, a smaller one in the mountains, one in Khamista, and one beneath the sea to the south of the Confederacy of the Isles. We would be able to share this with you." After a moment's thought, the Archduchess says, "I must handle this personally. I will take my guard. I will take our friend among the dark elves. I will take a brace of pit fiends. I will also gather such werewolves as there are."</p><p></p><p>The Council offers Lord Davion, if that is acceptable to their elven friend.</p><p></p><p>The Council send word to Lord Davion, who departs to the given coordinates for a safehouse in the capital of Hanal, from which they intend to strike. He disappears.</p><p></p><p>* * *</p><p>Early the next morning, Kit comes in with a report. There’s a very elven messenger, who can’t enter the palace because the wards would destroy him, but wanted to mention Yel and Oknay.</p><p></p><p>Dame Brionna finds a briefing message: the God-Emperor of Masque used his troops to wipe out groups of trolls. Three areas resisted: Yar, Yel, and Oknay. Yar is inhabited by one of the ancients, but Yel and Oknay appear to be twisted, in ways similar to things in the lands of Borsh’tro.</p><p></p><p>There are layers and layers of wards; each of the elven groups that has come through has strengthened them (both Eldar and Noldar), and Alistair's grandmother (one of the greatest human mages in generations) strengthened them. At their base, the wards were probably dwarven—most of the construction of the palace was dwarven.</p><p></p><p>Alistair reaches down into the land, sensing with his connection. He senses the city, and finds a tremendous locus of health emanating out from the garden where the Princess stayed, which has radiated out over most of the city. Over in the direction of the inns of the inner city, there is a knot of Other. It doesn’t fit. It doesn’t feel like a sickness, like the servants of the pariah gods, but it feels different. It feels furtive, but it still has emanated out to a block or so of the city.</p><p></p><p>Dame Brionna and Kit head out to the inn, after insisting that Alistair can’t come with them. It’s late, but the common room shouldn’t be empty, even at this time of night, and the next day’s bread should be baking. But there is silence—not even the bartender is present. Also, Dame Brionna has started glowing. There is alteration magic washing over Dame Brionna—her armor is reacting to this, with the wards on it waking up and reacting and responding to the alteration magic.</p><p></p><p>“Prithee enter, dames. I would offer you refreshments, but I left an osmium tual downstairs with the innkeeper. I fear that none of his goods should be served anymore. I wish to meet with you speedily, because I know that I cannot long conceal my presence from the Princess." He is clearly an elf, looking mostly like a gray elf, but the glowing orange eyes and the hair that is a curtain of living flame is outside the normal gray elf repertoire (although it could be a fashion statement). "Once she is aware of me, I must flee quickly, or I will be eradicated. The West is no longer mine. My master has stayed in Yar. He has kept it clean."</p><p></p><p>“Clean of the miasma that claimed Yel and Orknay?” </p><p></p><p>“Yes. But someone needed to find out. There are creatures that have arisen, the worst in many years, that have come in the past year. The forces of Masque can barely contain them. I cannot bring the taint back with me to my master’s hall. You must get a message back to my master, free of the taint that is within me."</p><p></p><p>Dame Brionna uses her paladin sense: he is not evil, but there is something evil within him.</p><p></p><p>[cont'd]</p><p></p><p>[I think we received a players' handout in this session, but as far as I can tell it is lost to time.]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CPaladin, post: 8348770, member: 7030144"] Session 57 (February 19, 2013) Skard 19 (continued) A psion patches Alistair through, with some difficulty, to a council chamber in black and blood red with gold sigils. There are three figures in the chamber—the Archduchess, who the Council has met before, on a kneeler; a man dressed entirely in black, seated on a small throne; and another man in a blackened steel mask. Alistair discusses the matters. "You are correct; it is unacceptable. If they can break the Seachen, in addition to controlling the treasures there, and likely elevating their temporary ally the Abomination of Shurr, they would be able to control the Spice Lands." The Archduchess continues, "We have identified all of the breakthrough points—one south of your continent, a smaller one in the mountains, one in Khamista, and one beneath the sea to the south of the Confederacy of the Isles. We would be able to share this with you." After a moment's thought, the Archduchess says, "I must handle this personally. I will take my guard. I will take our friend among the dark elves. I will take a brace of pit fiends. I will also gather such werewolves as there are." The Council offers Lord Davion, if that is acceptable to their elven friend. The Council send word to Lord Davion, who departs to the given coordinates for a safehouse in the capital of Hanal, from which they intend to strike. He disappears. * * * Early the next morning, Kit comes in with a report. There’s a very elven messenger, who can’t enter the palace because the wards would destroy him, but wanted to mention Yel and Oknay. Dame Brionna finds a briefing message: the God-Emperor of Masque used his troops to wipe out groups of trolls. Three areas resisted: Yar, Yel, and Oknay. Yar is inhabited by one of the ancients, but Yel and Oknay appear to be twisted, in ways similar to things in the lands of Borsh’tro. There are layers and layers of wards; each of the elven groups that has come through has strengthened them (both Eldar and Noldar), and Alistair's grandmother (one of the greatest human mages in generations) strengthened them. At their base, the wards were probably dwarven—most of the construction of the palace was dwarven. Alistair reaches down into the land, sensing with his connection. He senses the city, and finds a tremendous locus of health emanating out from the garden where the Princess stayed, which has radiated out over most of the city. Over in the direction of the inns of the inner city, there is a knot of Other. It doesn’t fit. It doesn’t feel like a sickness, like the servants of the pariah gods, but it feels different. It feels furtive, but it still has emanated out to a block or so of the city. Dame Brionna and Kit head out to the inn, after insisting that Alistair can’t come with them. It’s late, but the common room shouldn’t be empty, even at this time of night, and the next day’s bread should be baking. But there is silence—not even the bartender is present. Also, Dame Brionna has started glowing. There is alteration magic washing over Dame Brionna—her armor is reacting to this, with the wards on it waking up and reacting and responding to the alteration magic. “Prithee enter, dames. I would offer you refreshments, but I left an osmium tual downstairs with the innkeeper. I fear that none of his goods should be served anymore. I wish to meet with you speedily, because I know that I cannot long conceal my presence from the Princess." He is clearly an elf, looking mostly like a gray elf, but the glowing orange eyes and the hair that is a curtain of living flame is outside the normal gray elf repertoire (although it could be a fashion statement). "Once she is aware of me, I must flee quickly, or I will be eradicated. The West is no longer mine. My master has stayed in Yar. He has kept it clean." “Clean of the miasma that claimed Yel and Orknay?” “Yes. But someone needed to find out. There are creatures that have arisen, the worst in many years, that have come in the past year. The forces of Masque can barely contain them. I cannot bring the taint back with me to my master’s hall. You must get a message back to my master, free of the taint that is within me." Dame Brionna uses her paladin sense: he is not evil, but there is something evil within him. [cont'd] [I think we received a players' handout in this session, but as far as I can tell it is lost to time.] [/QUOTE]
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Aphonion Tales: The Archducal Council -- Unedited notes; later posts are edited transcripts (posts MWF, update 3/1/23)
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